denounce that Woe against All who shall attempt to obstruct this National Reformation in most humble manner thus presented to the Higher Powers our Supreme Magistrates and Ministers the pious Governours of the Civil and Ecclesiastick State Woe be unto that man by whom this offence shall come It had been better for him that a mill-stone were hung about his neck and that he was cast into the bottom of the sea THE INSTRUMENT FOR Reformation WHEREAS His Majesty in his Letter to the Bishops hath declared his most earnest desire of a General Reformation of the Lives and Manners of all his Subjects And the Queen's Majesty in her Letter to the Justices of the Peace of the County of Middlesex at their Sessions at Hicks's-Hall hath Charged and Required Them to use the most effectual Methods for putting the Laws in Execution against all manner of Profaneness and Wickedness Whereas also both Their Majesties have lately Issued out Their Proclamation against Vitious Debauched and Profane Persons wherein they declare the deep Sense of the Goodness and Mercy of Almighty God by whom Kings Reign in giving so happy Successes to their Endeavours for the Rescuing of these Kingdoms from Popish Tyranny and Superstition c. So also they are not less touched with a Resentment that notwithstanding these great Deliverances Impiety and Vice still abounds in this Kingdom And that the Execution ofmanygood Laws that have been made for the Suppressing and Punishing thereof hath been grosly neglected to the great Dishonour of God and Religion Wherefore they further declare their Princely Resolution to discountenance all manner of Vice and for that purpose they straitly Charge Require and Command all Judges Mayors Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and all other Officers Ecclesiastical and Civil in their respective Stations to Execute the Laws against Blasphemy profane Swearing and Cursing Drunkenness Lewdness Profanation of the Lord's Day or any other dissolute immoral or disorderly Practice as they will answer it to Almighty God and upon pain of their Majesties highest Displeasure And for the more effectual Proceedings herein They direct and command Judges and Justices of the Peace to give strict Charges at the respective Assizes and Sessions for the due Prosecution and Punishment of all Persons that shall presume to offend in any the Kinds aforesaid and also of all Persons that contrary to their Duty shall be remiss or negligent in putting the said Laws in Execution as may be seen more at large in the said Royal Proclamation given at their Majesties Court at White-Hall Jan. 21. 1691 2 in the third Year of their Reign In pursuance hereof many excellent Orders have been given out particularly by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of London The Bench of Justices at their General quarter-Quarter-Sessions held forthe County of Middlesex and also by the Justices at their General quarter-Quarter-Sessions held for the County of Surry Wherein they Charge and Command all Counstables Headboroughs Church-wardens c. to use their utmost Endeavours to bring all Offenders against the Laws aforesaid to condign Punishment severely meancing their Negligence but promising to their Diligence herein all Encouragement Yet notwithstanding all this Vice and Wickedness abound in every place Lord's Days are still profaned Drunkenness and Lewdness escape unpunished our Ears in most Companies are filled with Imprecasions of Damnation the Corners of our Streets every where echo the horrible Sounds of Oaths Curses and blasphemous Execrations The blame of all this lies undoubtedly for the most part at the doors of Inferiour Officers Authority both Supream and Subordinate having sufficiently acquitted it self and worthily acted its part in giving forth strict Commands as aforesaid But these though they are intrusted to be the only immediate Executors of the Laws have neglected to put them in Execution Now as Execution is the life of Laws so their Non-execution being equivalent to an actual Repeal renders them useless or as if they never had a Being Hence it is that Wickedness grows rampant and Profaneness rides triumphant trampling upon all the Zeal and Piety of Virtuous Governours and Legislators making all their Religious Intentions and Resolutions void and of none effect How much the said Officers are concerned in this Guilt and which of them are most faulty we may easily see if we divide them into two Ranks and take a view first of those that will not do their Duties being conscious of their own wicked Inclinations and Actions they will not punish that Impiety in others which they allow of in themselves There are other Officers that are more conscientious Of these some are Tradesmen which willingly would but cannot spare time to give that Attendance that is requisite for the full discharge of their Offices without a manifest neglect of their Shops Trades and other Business And thus the best Laws for punishing and suppressing of Vice and Wickedness that are already or for the future can be made and enforced though by a thousand Proclamations and subordinate Orders will all prove ineffectual unless put in Execution by Under-Officers Of these as afore-mentioned some are profane and will not others would and something they do towards it but have not time to do to the full of what is required of them To remedy these great Inconveniencies and to answer the Great and Noble Ends of our Governours in making good Laws and pressing their Execution the Expedient as drawn up in the following Form is most humbly proposed We who are Inhabitants of the Cities of London and Westminster and Parishes adjacent both in the Counties of Middlesex and Surry having an Eye to the Honour of God and the King and the publick Benefit of the Nation And being encouraged by the late happy Success that hath attended the industrious Endeavours of the Tower-Hamlets whereby according to a Method mentioned in their printed Paper or Instrument That declaring honest and joynt design for the general suppressing of Bawdy-houses c. they have with more than ordinary Diligence and great expence of their Time and Money in the space of two or three Years as lately Affidavit hath been made before the Bench of Justices at Hicks's Hall not only brought to due Punishment according to Law seven or eight hundred Criminals but also generally routed those naughty Houses which formerly abounded amongst them And being fluenced by that good old Principle or Axiom Bonum quo communius eo melius resolve to use our hearty Endeavours that so good a Work may no longer be consined within such narrow Limits but be farther promoted for more general Advantage WHEREFORE we agree upon our own Costs and Charges to imploy and maintain a competent Number of such fitting Persons as we shall choose to assist the several Constable and other Officers in the Wards of the said City of London and in other of the said adjacent Parishes in putting in Execution those good Laws aforesaid viz. by observing and taking notice of all those that
attending him he found three naked Men and three naked Women who had been Dancing and Revelling whom they apprehended and carryed to the Watch house and in the morning they were committed to Bridewel by Justice Vnderhill and were whipt with one more who came to vindicate them About three months after this the said Constable walking again the same Rounds and passing by this House heard a great outcry about of the clock in the night with much Swearing and Cursing who begg'd of one another that for the Lord's sake they would all be quiet The Constable thereupon waited without till they at last made a loud Outcry of Murder Murder Murder Whereupon he Commanded the door to be opened They refusing the said Constable forced it open with others of the Watch attending in the ground-room he could make no discovery but going up the Stairs he observed they were sprinkled with blood and forcing his way into the Chamber of the second floor after he had broke open the door he found blood in a Bowl and also in a Chamber-pot and a great quantity of blood lying in a hollow place in the midst of the floor and Two Women in bed Nothing would they confess but pretended the blood came by a cut of one of their fingers And going up into the Garaet the Constable observing those Stairs were also sprinkled and smear'd with blood they found blood sprinkled on the Ceiling and Walls and the floor was so full of congealed blood that it cover'd their soles and squasht under foot as if they had been in an Old SLAVGHTER HOVSE that wanted cleansing being so slippry they could scarce stand Which seems plainly to discover that blood had been there for some consideaable time c. Here they found Two young men upon a Bed in their Cloaths and in the said Garret there lay the Cloaths of another Man viz. his Coat Breeches Doublet Stockings Shoes Hat Wig. Craver but his Shirt was wanting The Constable and other Officers searched the House from the top of the tiles and downward and in every place and room even to the bottom three several times and could make no further discovery more then what was so Notorious Obvious and Tremendious to behold Nor would any of the Persons in the House Confess any thing more than a cut of one of their fingers whereupon they were committed to the Watch-house and a Gaurd set on the House and the next morning brought before Justice Constable and examined but confessed nothing and he sent them to Bridewell where they were Whipt severely and detained for sometime till further Evidence came in against them At last none Appearing they were discharged God grant these Extraordinary Providences may be seriously attended as no doubt it is intended to be for a Loud Warning from Heaven to the Licentious Youth in and about This City more especially to take heed what Company they frequent as being no small Temptation to draw forth their Corruption and to betray them into the most dangerous Snares of Death and Hell To prevent which Let every good Christian Pray with David LORD Order and direct my Steps in thy Paths that I may run all the ways of thy Precepts with delight then shall I not be ashamed when I shall have respect to All thy Commandements And we make no small Progress herein when we maintain such a constant fear and jealousie over our own Hearts and Lives as makes us daily with that Blessed Man to have our recourse to God by prayer Hold thou up my Steps in thy Paths that my feet slide not And when we fall LORD seek thy Servant that is gone Astray for I have not forgotten Thy Commandements A Black Roll Containing the real or reputed Names and Crimes of several Hundred Persons that have been Prosecuted by the Society this last Year for Whoring Drunkenness Thefts Sabbath-breaking c. as Delivered unto Them by their Clerk And been published for the satisfaction of many who have been desirous to know what progress we have made in this Reformation of Manners Some or these Persons have kept Bawdy-Houses some of whom have been Indicted and some Fined Mary Adams Mary Arrundell Sasah Allin Mary Abbitt Mary Anderson Jane Armstrong Elizabeth-Avem James and Sarah Ayres Elizabeth Ealy Elixabeth Earle Margaret Earen Mary Ev'nall Amey Eliot Sarah Edwards Alice Jones Christian King Mary 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Ann 〈◊〉 Charity Squish Elizabeth Shift Mary Smith Rebecca Trimmer Mary Thorogood Jane Winchcomb Sarah Whitaker Mary Wilden Elizabeti Ealy Thousas Bowater Tho. and Sarah Burton Elizabeth Brown â—ane Bricksteck Henry Body Mrrtha Blefford Elizabeth Bushell Ann Bradbery Ann Brewrick Mary Bone Mary Banfield Joan Horsnaile Mary Hughes Mary Harrissen Dorothy Howell Elizabeih Faugh Elizabeth Jones Elizabeth King Susanna Lewis Sarah Moor Samuell Parker John Mary Packer Mary Quarles Elizabeth Raice John Sarah Rigway Alice Sprinkfield Susanna Stanley Sarah Scoot Margaret Seale Sarah Thompson Richard and Mary Thomas Alice Wilson Elizabeth Wheler Hannah Ware John and Eliz. Hedger Margaret Tillara George Codd Bridget Cotion Elizabeth Chettham Mary Cole Mary Copinger Mary Chetham Ann Chandler John and Ann Coleman Mary Dawson William Harper John Elizabeth Hedges Mary Hill Ann Holbrook Dorothy Howes Gatherine Flower Elizabeth Johnson Sarah Keaâ—h Elizabeth Leek Elizabeth Michel Tho. and Jane Pettit Elizabeth Fartree Ann Raye Temperance Reed Mary Reves William and Eliz. Smith Susanna Stuobs Millicent Sâ—â—ll Mary Swan Elizabeth Watts Mary Vincent Ann Watte Elizabeth White Mary White John and Mary Pannell And some Câ—râ—ed Viz Dorithy Furlon John and Judith Frost Mary Fairfax Thomas Alice Gibbons William Groves Sarah Gorry Mary Gayrish Mary Garret John Durnhil John Hix Alias Hurst Many Harris Mary Hall John and Mary Hind Geo. and Mary Harrel Mary Jones Peter Elizabeth King Mary Knight John Elizabeth Long Mary Moor Mary Paâ—mer Ann Mack Alice Randoll Sarah Rose Mary Randford Elizabeth Star Susan Spritgfield Arrundel Turner Elizabeth Topta Elizabeth Taylor Dorothy Williams Elizabeth Williams Elizabeth Whores Ann Winchcomb James Delafoy Night Walkers and Plyers in Bawdy Houses all or most of whom have been Whipt in Bridewell this Year Elizabeth Bates Elizabeth Bissel Elizabeth Brown Lidia Buckler Martha Bolt Mary Carr Mary Carroll Jane Desow Susannâ— Edwards Elizabeth Elliot Dorothy Flander Ann Goulding Elizabeth Harris Sarah Hilliard Margaret Heâ—ger Elizabeth Hedger Elizabeth Heath Ann Kettle Mary Kempe Katherine Lewis Elizabeth Mills Jane Peters Ann Preston Ann Palmer Elizabeth Sammon Mary Turner Martha Tucker Ann Vickar Catherine Chilver Hannah Ribbey Mary White Elizabeth Thome Hannah Powell Elizabeth Lee Mary Madson Jane Glover Mary Jenkins Susanna Yates Jane Bayley Ann Bonuss Mary Bennet Mary Baker Katherine Dodd Mary Dupper Martha Davis Mercy Dickenson Jane Gloves Elizabeth Green Elizabeth Ginney Aun Harress Derothy Hall Marcha Harison Hannab Jackson Alice Jones Martha Morgan Elizabeth Messenger Ann Pearce Elizabeth Partre Elizabeth Poor Ann Sheldrick Elizabeth Smith Sarah Slaughter Mary Tanner Judith Trumbold Mary Trvelove Sarah Varrey Susadna Wilson Mary West Mary Osborne Frances Haughting Frances Palmes Patience Webbes Mary Jeffreys Elizabeth Prince Alice Springfield Phendal Mary Gibbs Alice Gibbs Stanley Mary Peach Isabel Goodâ—in Elizabeth Bird Mary Haughton Alias Haughtry Thomys Newton John Stow Ann Green Sarah Moon Alias Thompson Mary Downing Katherine Lewis Wid. Wing Tho. Gibbon Ann Morris Alias Haber John Lockyer Edward Newby Wynn Margaret Tylard Mary Kinde Mrs Oram Mary Clark Gatton Mary Raughby Alias Haughton Alice Gobbons William Monday George Peter Katherine Moor Ann Worball Mary Long Mary Summers Ann Worrel Isabel Perry Alice Springfield Hugh Wilkinsou Lucy Michel Mrs. Arran Mary Tauner Mary D. George Peacock Samuel Jones Ann Jones Ann Newman Elizabeth Pierce Sarah Jefferis Hugh Wilkinson Ann Londay Jobe Laud Margaret Smith Hanna Lewis Ann Reed January 1612 3 Sarah Ellis Wm. Griffeth Thomas Bowater Ann Worrel Martha Flitcher Mary White Johanna Playshad Mary Osbourne Rainshorow Mary Kempe Mary Stevens Mary Baker Mary Alderman Alice Fendal Mary Clark Ann Slaughter Elizabeth Gouge Mary Reed Rebecca Bowman Lucy Basly Martha Griffen Rebecca Foster Jane Bluit Elizabeth Prince Sarah Cook Sarah Lacy FINIS Books lately Printed for John Dunton THE First Volume of the French Book of Martyrs Published with her Majesties Royal Priviledge The Second Volume is already in the Press and the Third and Fourth preparing for it those that expect any advantage by the Proposals made concerning this Work must send in there Subscriptions by the 10th of next March or otherwise 't will he to late Proposals are to be had of the Undertaker John Dunton and of most Booksellers in London and the Country Bishop Barlow's Remains Containing near an hundred distinct Subjects Theological Philosophical Historical c. in Letters to several persons of Honour and Quality To which is added the Resolution of many abstruce points As also directions to a Young Divine for his Study of Divinity and Choice of his Library Published from his Lordships Original Papers The Orders of the Helvetian Church c. Translated into English by John Conrad Werndly Minister of Wrasbury and recommended to the Publick by Six Reverend Bishops The Tragedies of Sin by Stephen Jay late Rector of Chinner Casuistical Morning Exercises the 4th Volume by several Ministers in and about London Heads of agreement assented to by the United Ministers The Life of the Reverend Mr Brand by D. Samuel Annesley Practical Discourses on Sickness and Recovery by Timothy Rogers M. A. The Life and Death of Mr. Eliot the First Preacher of the Gospel to the Indians in America the 3d Edition An earnest Call to Family Reformation Price 6 d. or 50 of them for 10 s. to those Gentlemen that bye them to Disperse A Narrative of the extraordinary Cure of Mrs. Savages crocked Hand Published by consent of her Husband and attested by him and several other credible Witnesses Funeral Discourses in several Texts by John Shower Books in the Press and designed for it printed for John Dunton THE Lord Faulklands Works Secretary of State to King Charles I. Mr. Will. Leiburns new Mathematical Tracts in Follo A continuation of Morning Exercise Questions and Cases of Conscience the Second Edition A Discourse of the Trinity by John Mauduit Minister at Tooring
PROPOSALS FOR A National Reformation OF MANNERS Humbly offered to the Consideration of our MAGISTRATES CLERGY To which is added I. The Instrument for Reformation II. An Account of several Murders c. and particularly A Bloody Slaughter-house discover'd in Rosemary-lane by some of the Society for Reformation as the same hath been Sworn before two of Their Majesties Justices of the Peace AS ALSO The Black Roll. CONTAINING The Names and Crimes of several hundreds Persons who have been prosecuted by the Society for Whoring Drunkenness Sabbath-breaking c. Published by the Society for Reformation LICENSED Feb. 12th 1693 â— D. POPLAR LONDON Printed for John Dunton at the Raven in the Poultry MDCXCIV THE PREFACE ALL men agree That Atheism and Profaneness never got such an high Ascendant as at this day A thick gloominess hath overspread our Horizon and our Light looks like the Evening of the World Insomuch that all those great Works and Wonders which God hath wrought out for us appear but like Walking-Trees although the eyes of the Blind and the Ears of the Deaf have been miraculously opend thereby and that the Lame hath been made to Arise and Walk Yet for all this Impiety abounds even after our angry God hath shaken the foundation of the Earth and that he hath hereby so loudly called on the Christian World to this Nation and City also in a more especial manner to awake from deep Slumber and to amend our ways by an Universal Reformation of our Lives and Manners and not to imagine Jamaica and Sicily were greater sinners than others for unless we repent we shall all likewise perish These sad considerations have compelled us to appear in the publick face of so many discouragements on every hand We believe no unprejudiced person which considers aright will mistake our end herein or suggest what never entred into our thoughts For we are not so opinionated of our selves as presumptuously and arrogently to Dictate to our Honourable Magistrates and Clergy in the Administration of the Civil and Ecclesiastick Government which God hath entrusted unto their consciencious Care and Managment by those methods which their mature Judgment and Wisdom can Dirct But our intention in this publick appearance is in the first place to represent some of those Fountain-heads which are the Scourse or Original more especially of those most palpable Evils which have infected all places and corncers of the Land and City with an Universal Contagion That from this Prospect many Mourners may be raised up in our Jerusalem to wrestle with the Almighty to remove those Tremendous Judgments hanging over our heads and wherein every private Christian may become a publick Blessing to the Nation In the next place we only Propose in all becoming humility some such Ways or Methods for suppressing the daily growth of Wickedness as may yet more and more excite and new-animate our Honourable MAGISTRATES and CLERGY to find out some better expedient for Universal Reformation of Manners However our hearty attempts unto the aforesaid End in pursuance of those several Declarations and Proclamations of the KING and QVEEN's Most Ecclent Majesty commanding and encouraging all Dutyful and Loyal Subjects thereunto according to their several Capacities hath met with a wonderful Blessing and Success from small beginnings even beyond many persons expectations by which it appear God hath not despised the day of small things FOR who would have imagined that four or five persons only who at first began this Work in the sight and opposition of so many professed adversaries would have met with so early encouragement as namely from the Right Reverend BISHOPS my Lord Lucas the Honourable Bench of Justices at Hicks ' s-Hall Afterwards from the Right Honourable Lord MAYOR and Court of Aldermen The honourable Sheriffs and Recorder and from several other Persons of Eminent Quality for whose great Zeal and Piety herein all good mens thanks are due Wherefore that Posterity may rise up and Bless Their Memory when they lye down in the Dust the last Act of Justice and Gratitude we can shew to perpetuate their Name is to present the World with these humble Proposals for an Universal Reformation of Manners Annexing thereunto this strange Relation of barbarous Murders and particularly of a bloody SLAUGHTER-HOUSE Affixing also our BLACK-ROLL of the Names and Crimes of Notorious Offenders taken out of the Records of several of the Courts c. which this Society hath detected and brought to condigne Punishment Who when we were but an Embryo yet then began to Quicken by that Benigne Aspect which these our most Honourable PATRONS were pleased to cast upon us This alone if there had been no other Arguments might have given us sufficient encouragement to make an humble Dedication of these Leaves unto THEM but that we considered the implacable Adversaries unto Reformation would be labouring to misrepresent both the Subject-matter and our End To conculde let all good Christians pray that God alone may have the Honour and Glory of his own Work unto whom be all Praises Thanksgivings Worship and Obedience throughout all his Dominions World without end Amen THE NECESSITY Of a Present National Reformation SHall the Lyon roar and the beasts of the Forest not tremble Shall God Shake this and other Cities and Nations of Europe all at once and shall our obdurate hearts remain unbroken and unshaken after all this Doth not the late Tremendous EARTH-QUAKE in several parts of England and London which had such influence on the English Court beyond the Seas c. speak a loud unto this Nation and these Kingdoms and to this City especially since it falls out in so few Weeks after that great Catastrophe in Jamaica As on the one hand these things tell us that God's anger is not yet turned away and that his Arm is stretched out still so on the other hand this gentle warning after many disregarded Mercies and Judgments seems as if God was speaking to Vs as of old unto Ephraim How shall I give thee up O Ephraim how shall I make thee as Admah and as Zeboim c. The Church of the Jews sinned not against such alluring Motives to Love and Obedience as we have done It 's true they sinned greatly in the Wilderness and afterwards also when they were in their Promised Land though followed with miraculous mercies and deliverances so long grieving his Spirit untill God did greatly abhor his own Inheritance and forsook Shilo his Ark which he had placed among them Ps 87. And afterward gave the beloved of his soul into the hands of her Enemies then when he suffered the Babylonians or Chaldeans to burn Jerusalem and his Temple They sinned still more and more after them return from Captivity and that the Temple was rebuilt their spirits being so inveterately incensed against one another that one Church or Temple-worship at Jerusalem was not sufficient to preserve Union and Communion Afterwards in Christs time his degenerated Church was arrived
this degree corrupted by them but that it is the universal opinion of all truly Sober and Godly Men That nothing in the world hath a greater tendency to corrupt the generallity of those who frequent these Publick Houses than attendance from time to time upon their interludes and is one great reason why the sins before named to which others might be added also are become so deeply Radicated and now Habitual for these 30 years last past unto the Constitution of our English Nation as whereby not only our Bodies become a Prey to many Diseases but our very Minds also are corrupted and the natural Vigour and Manliness Prowess and Valour of our Kingdom for which Britany formerly was in so much Renown among all Nations is hereby in a manner wholly or very much lost and effeminate Pusillanimity bred and cherished hereby 2. It is more than a little suspected that it hath been and still is one grand design of those Priests and Jesuits who adhere unto the French Interest to introduce and keep up these Publick Play-Houses on purpose 1. To obudrate the Conscience of Professors and cast such a mist before their Eyes that they may thereby be prepared to entertain those Principles which so much tolerate and encourage these Vices that are so destructive to a Nation 2. To Mollifie and Esseminate the English Valour that we may be broken in pieces when our Martial Neighbour Nation shall Invade us 3. The Devil actually appeared amongst them when that sad Tragedy of Faustus the Conjurer was acted a dreadful token of God's highly provoked Wrath. then when the unquenchable Fire of Hell and Everlasting Burnings were represented to the Spectators together with the external Appearance of Mock Devils as a Jest only to raise Sport and Laughter at those Realities that if felt will create the tremendous Worm in Conscience that never dyes as if the generality of obdurate Sinners had a design hereby to render the Damnation of precious Souls either a Figment or a matter of no such formidable consequence as a meer Scarecrow seems to be amongst the Fowls The amazing Horror and Consternation that was then amongst the Spectators startled them at that moment but it soon went off as a Thunderclap that affects but in the moment only Where could the Devil better shew himself than either in the most remote parts of the Infidel-World where he is worshipped in Bodily Shape or else on this most prophane Spot here in London which he may too reasonably take for his own Ground since the Heathen who are called by God's Name even in this Metropolis of Great Britain invoke this Hellish Fiend and provoke him thus to appear amongst them 4. God hath in his most justly incensed Anger and judicial Wrath suffered divers of the Actors on these publick Stages of Wickedness to harden their own Hearts to a most desperate degree of Seared Conscience as whereby they have offered like persons possessed with Diabolism the highest Affront that can be at present thought or devised both unto God's Goodness Merciful Patience and Long-suffering Meekness Gentleness and Forbearance which is intended to lead all sorts unto Repentance and also unto his Severity of Justice and provoked Indignation A most notorious Instance we have had in the late K. Charles's Reign before whom the Comedians brought the Holy Bible on the Stage as if they had intended to dress up the Scriptures in a ridiculous disguise together with the truly Conscientious Christian who professeth before God and his Church to live up according to the plain intelligible Rules and Precepts therein contained as surely as ever the Jews put on the Purple Robe and Crown of Thorns on Our Saviour on purpose to expose his Sacred Person an Object of most publick Ignominy and Reproach and had not that King forbid them such an Act of Villany it is not to be questioned but they had long e're this exploded the common Principles of a Deity whose express Image written with the immediate Inspiration of the Spirit called the Finger of GOD is this Sacred Word of His the mighty power of God through Faith unto Salvation in all who believe Another notorious Instance how far they are left of God and his Spirit unto a Reprobate Mind we have lately had amongst us when the Comedians in Bartholomew Fair were going to Act that Tremendous Tragedy which a few months since hapned at Jamaica by that dreadful EARTHQUAKE which swallowed up so many Hundreds alive into their Grave And we have been credibly informed That some of them or such-like Brethren in Iniquity far worse than Devils Incarnate who believe and tremble at the consideration of GOD and his Righteous Judgments have drank a Health to the next Earthquake an Impiety almost beyond a Miracle and not to be mentioned without greatest abhorrence and detestation Thus we see to what superlative degree of Atheistical Prophaneness the Antecedents Concomitants and Consequences of these publick Plays and Comedies do lead Men and how dangerous it may be to a City or Nation to tolerate or countenance such Places where GOD and Man's Salvation His WORD His Judgments Heaven Hell and Danmation c. those great and weighty Concerns of the whole Intellectual Creation are in such a prophane manner exposed and prostituted unto Contempt Shame and Ridicule And whereas the numerous Attendants upon and Spectators of these Publick Interludes who are of all Sorts and Ranks may for a while stifle their own Convictions and skin over their secret Wounds by objecting That they are not the Actors and that others would fill up the Places if they did absent themselves and many such-like Evasions which are but Fig-leaves to cover over their own Nakedness yet they would do well to consider that clear Text Rom. 1. and the last Verse where taking delight in those who commit open and scandalous Sins is looked upon by God as a greater degree or at least as great a height of Sin as if They were the Criminals themselves Who knowing the Judgments of God that they who commit such things are worthy of death not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them V. CONSIDERATION That great Care be taken to put a Difference between the Clean and the Vnclean Members the Vile and the Honourable in the Visible Church and not to admit all sorts of loose Professors unto the Holy Communion or Supper of the Lord. Having in a more special manner hitherto address'd our selves unto the Publick Magistrates we close up the wholewith an humble and importunate Request and Entreaty That the several MINISTERS of the Church or Churches of Christ who have the Charge Care and Inspection over their whole Flock committed unto them by Christ whether those of the Church of England or other Congregations would yet make more and more Conscience of suspending from the Lord's Table all such Members of theirs who are notoriously known and observed to be of a scandalous Life and Conversation
for the time to come shall impudently dare in Rebellion against the Laws of God and Man to Swear and Curse to profane the Lord's day or be guilty of the loathsom Sin of Drunkenness also by searching out the lurking Holes of Bawds Whores and other filthy Miscreants in order to their Conviction and Punishment according to Law We promise to take care what in us lies that none shall be connived at or Favour or Affection and none prosecuted out of Malice or Hatred And to the end that nothing may be done illegally we will have frequent Recourse to those that are Learned in the Law in order to act by their advice Counsel and Direction In our contending against those Abominations that threaten the Destruction of the whole Kingdom An angry Look of God not long since made the Earth Tremble And may we not fear without Reformation the next Look may be to our Ruine and Destruction What are we better than the Cities of Naples Smyrna Inspruck Sicily and Jamaica who lately thus perished one great Reason why Wickedness so abounds in this Nation is because no more private Hands are engaged against it all is left to have or six Officers in a Parish though it may be one half if not two thirds of them for the generality instead of being Suppressers are rather Supporters and Encouragers of it either by neglect of Duty or by giving bad Example To conclude what dreadful Judgments may we not fear if we continue unreformed But if this blessed Work of Reformation as we have great hopes prospers what Blessings may we not expect The Reformation we are endeavouring in this great City and Suburbs by the continuance of God's Blessing and of our Magistrates favourable Countenance effectually to accomplish we hope will influence the whole Nation with Scotland and Ireland in such wise that we all with one Heart one Mind one Soul might fear God honour the King and live in Love Unity Peace and Concord one with another Amen and Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A true Relation of several Barbarous Villanies and Murders detected in and about London by some Constables and other Officers assisted by some of the Society for Reformation Whereunto is Added an Account of a Bloody SLAUGHTER-HOUSE in Rosemary Lane near East-Smithfield Discovered by A. M. one of the Constables belonging to the Society The whole having been Sworn before Two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for London and Middlesex A Long Harangue is not here intended but only a Short yet 〈◊〉 and true Narrative of such Matters of Fact c. as may not onâ—â— for up All Persons of common Morality and Sobriety to Abominate the frightful Appearance of VICE dress'd up in the black Spoâ—s of Loosness and Debaucherie but likewise to Mourn and Lament by reason of that Universal Contagion of Sin and Wickedness which hath so dangerously Overspread this City and Nation also and Infected so many persons of all Ranks both young and old each Sex also and almost every Place and corner of the Land Hoping that this Relation may have some Influence on all Good Men to Excite their ardent Sighs and Prayers to GOD that he would New-animate our Pious Magistrates and Clergie in a more especial manner to improve their great Interest to Promote and Encourage such a Society or Societies as shall conscienciously regard the Glory and Honour of GOD the safety and preeservation of the Government under which we so happily Live wherein the Publique Good of these Kingdoms doth so eminently consist by their hearty and loyal endeavours to discover all such like Notorious Criminals and to bring them unto condign Punishment It were greatly to be wisht that every of these Monstrous Villains had not thus escaped the Sword of the Magistrate But seeing the Devil hath thus secured several of them from a present Apprehension or Execution as his Hellish Favourites thereby to further them in all such Wickednesses as may make them fully Ripe for a more heavy Condemnation hereafter without Repentance it is not to be doubted but the All-seeing Eye and Hand of the most Just and Righteous God will sooner or later reach them Vnto Whom Vengeance belongs and who will Recompenence it them in his own due time The Account is as follows THe Queen Dowager's Butler was Murdered in Anno 1689. by keeping company with Sarah Hodges living in the Hamlets of Wappen-Stepney at the Sign of the Bird in Hand who maintained a reputed Bawdy-House Several great Evidences were produced in order to her Conviction but all ineffectual A little after it hapned one night that the Neighbours observed the said Sarah Hodges's Maid frequently sent out upon Errands and this till Ten or Eleven a Clock at night The next morning the doors being fast several Neighbours knock'd but no person opening at last they found the door open and searched the low room narrowly but could discover nothing But going up one pair of Stairs into the fore-Chamber a sad and lamentable Spectacle presented it self A Young Woman was found in bed having her Throat Cut On the floor of the same Chamber the Servant-Maid of the House lay with her Throat cut also In the back Chamber of the same floor the Mistriss of the House the aforesaid Sarah Hodges was found in bed with her Throat Cut also and both her Ears slit to take out her gold Ear-rings In this dreadful manner all Three lay waltering in their blood and the House was found rifled Not long after another Woman in Goodmans-fields that kept a reputed Bawdy-House had her Throat cut also by one Selbey who was afterwards Executed near the same House And at the same time another Womans Throat was cut in the said House but not being cut through the Windpipe she recovered and discovered the Murder But who murdered the former Women is not yet known But above all the Relations which have been given the World of matters of this nature although some of them have been very strange and surprising yet this following Account seems to all who have heard thereof most Wonderful and Amazing Giving all of us great ground to conclude that many horrid Murders have been perpetrated from time to time in this place Insomuch that it may not unfitly be called The Strange Discovery of a New and bloody SLAUGHTER-HOUSE Which is as followeth In the year 1692. Mr Anthony Miles one of the Society being then Constable and walking his rounds it hapned that in Rosemany-Lane near East-Smithfield at the House of one Mistriss Smith who was known to entertain Whores and Theives he heard a great Revel rout with many Oaths and Cursings and making a stand to hearken and inform himself he heard several Persons in that House thrusting one another down Stairs who seem'd to him to be naked by the found of their feet One of them suddenly unbolted the door whereupon the said Constable thrust in his Staff to keep it open and entring in with diverse Persons